as restlessness or lethargy. He may also be making repeated—yet unsuccessful—attempts to vomit. What this might mean: His stomach may simply be distended with food, water, and/or gas. Or he may have an acute, life-threatening emergency called gastric dilatation volvulusG (bloat). YOUR VET MAY NEED TO: • Sedate your dog, in order to X-ray his abdomen. • Perform lab work. • Administer IV fluids. • Monitor his heart. • Euthanize the dog, if a case of bloat has progressed beyond repair.

anemiaG, or other bleeding disorder. Is your dog drinking large amounts or water and urinating more than usual? Is the urine clear (dilute) with little odor? Is your dog also eating more but not gaining weight? Call your veterinarian TODAY-it could be diabetesG. Is your dog drinking and urinating more than normal? Eating more than normal? Does he have a thin coat and pendulous abdomen? Has he recently been given cortisone? Call your veterinarian TODAY-it could be Cushing’s diseaseG or it

and blood/urine analysis. • Refer you to a specialist, who could perform such neurological tests as a CAT scanG, MRIG, myelogramG, or cerebral spinal fluid analysis. ACTION PLAN: Is there any evidence/history of head trauma, such as wounds, scrapes, bruising, or swelling? Call your veterinarian NOW—it could be a serious brain injury. Is your dog unconscious or having seizures? Is he poorly responsive, uncoordinated, having tremors, and/or drooling? Is he exhibiting any other abnormal

you press on it lightly with your fingers, it blanches (turns white). This describes most first-degree burns. 2. Same as above, but with blisters. This describes most second-degree burns. 3. The skin can vary in color, from white to red to black. It’s generally dry, with either a pliable or leathery texture. It seems non-painful, and when you press on it with your fingers, it doesn’t blanch. This describes most third-degree burns. What this might mean: A burn can be serious, depending on its

space behind the upper canine teeth, pressing upward on the roof of his mouth to part his jaws. (Tip: If your dog is difficult to contain, have a helper hold him, so both of your hands are free.) Step 1: Open mouth. Step 2. Use the base of your pill-hand thumb to press down on his lower jaw. When his jaws are extended such that you can clearly see the back of his throat, drop the pill in the middle of the farthest back part of his tongue that you can reach. (If you drop it to one side or the